Murray State University Athletics
Track and Field In Third Place After Day One of OVC Championships
5/3/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
After Day One of the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Murray State finds themselves in third place with 34 accumulated points. Leader Eastern Illinois has 37.5 points heading into Day Two.
The Racers got off to a great start Friday, with freshman Katelyn Jones winning the 3,000 meter steeplechase event with a time of 10:57.92, a new school record. Jones also broke the record earlier this season (10:59.14).
In the 100 meter hurdles, freshman Laken Dirkes came in 11th place with a time of 15:55.
Freshman Amber Mills competed in the 400 meter dash, taking ninth place with a finishing time of 59.02.
MSU placed three runners in the 100 meter dash event, with Audris Williams leading the pack, finishing with a time of 12.32, advancing to Saturday's final. Olivia Joseph just missed the cut, finishing in ninth place with a time of 12:55. Freshman Brandy Williams also competed in the event, coming in 22nd place with a time of 13.04.
Sophomore Taylor Crawford qualified for Saturday's 800 meter finals, taking fourth place with a time of 2:16.63.
In the 400 meter hurdles, Meagan Richeson earned the chance to advance to Saturday's final, finishing seventh with a time of 1:04.64.
The freshman trio of Audris Williams, Amber Mills, and Brandy Williams all competed in the 200 meter dash preliminaries, with Audris Williams finishing in 10th place (25.59). Mills placing 20th (26.64), and Brandy Williams finishing right behind her in 21st place (26.69).
In the 10,000 meter run finals, junior Alaina Zanin brought home a top-5 finish for the Racers, finishing fifth with a time of 39:38.71.
Senior Emi Yamamuro, who earlier in the day was named OVC Field Athlete of the Year, lived up to the billing, winning the javelin throw with a toss of 140-10 (42.92 meters). This was also Yamamuro's fifth NCAA Regional qualifying throw in five tries this season.
Senior Laura Schroeder also competed in the javelin throw, finishing very strong with a seventh place finish with a throw of 123-11 (37.76 meters).
In the long jump finals, Joseph finished in seventh place with a jump of 18-01.75 (5.53 meters), while Mary Pearson also competed in the event, jumping 14-11.25 (4.55 meters), good enough for 14th place.
In the last event of Day One, Dominique Robinson finished in fifth place in the shot put, with a throw of 44-01.25 (13.44 meters). Shameka Dial finished seventh in the event, with a throw of 43-08.00 (13.31 meters), while Lindi Berry also took part in the event, placing 14th with a throw of 36-02.25 (11.03 meters).
Day Two officially begins from Southeast Missouri's Stuber Track Complex at 11 a.m. Saturday. Be sure to check GoRacers.com for the final results upon the conclusion of Day Two festivities.
